Contents 

  1. Contractor
  2. Background
  3. Object and goal
  4. Project strategy
     4:1. Time frame
     4:2. Travel route
  5. Organization
  6. Reporting and control
  7. Cooperation and interest
  8. Project risks
  9. Quality control
10. Information and training
11. Budget

1. Contractor 

The contractor is the non-profit Vittfarne Organization, Swedish organizational registration number 802413-1438.

The Vittfarne organization was formed in 2003 in order to plan and carry out the Vittfarne Expedition, a scientific journey with an exact replica in the wake of Ingvar's trail. The Ingvar trail is one of the first recorded historic events in Sweden, and listed in a number of runic inscriptions. The Chieftain Ingvar went east with a large host in the beginning of the 11th century. He went out further east than any other man, but the expedition ended in a disaster, as the major part of the host perished with disease during the return leg of the journey. Assistant Professor Mats G Larsson, a well-known archeologist and the author of a number of books on the Viking age, states that the Ingvar trail went from the Black Sea through the rivers of Trans-Caucasus to the Caspian Sea. The concept of testing the route in situ, with an exact replica craft, originated by Håkan Altrock, who had built a suitable ship replica. The expedition was launched in 2004. Before this, Håkan had traveled in a geographically uninterrupted journey in a viking vessel from Sigtuna to the Black Sea, following the rivers of the east. Expedition Vittfarne started where the latest journey to Gammalsvenskby in Southern Ukraine ended. After some 3 and a half months of sailing, rowing and pulling over land and on rivers, the Vittfarne Expedition did eventually reach the Caspian Sea. The journey yielded many new experiences, and thus supports the theory that Ingvar and his men indeed traveled through the Caucasus range to the riches of Särkland. The expedition was documented by the Swedish National Television, which broadcasted the TV-documentary with high viewer ratings. The scientific report is evident in the form of a C-range paper in archeology at the Stockholm University. The "Illustrerad Vetenskap" ("Science Illustrated" Magazine) featured a six-page spread on the expedition. This is only a few samples of the media attention heaped upon us, particularly in the nations visited by the expedition. Please, read more on www.vittfarne.com

2. Background

Around the end of the first millennium of the Christian era, a viking ship on its way to Greenland went off course and drifted west into unknown parts of the North Atlantic. A completely new continent came into sight. It was first explored by Leif Eriksson, who named the newfound lands Helluland, Markland and Vinland. The last country was noted for its abundance of wild grapevine, naturally growing wheat and a hostile people whom the Norse named ‘skrälingar’. Many Vinland journeys were carried out in the Viking age, but according to the sources, the expeditions ceased after the 12th century.
Vinland is first mentioned in literature, in Adam of Bremen's clerical history from 1070 AD. Later, several Icelandic sagas tell of wonderful lands in the west. Absolute coordinates have yet never been given. For that reason, several scientists have made repeated attempts to locate the mysterious realm. Many have stated that it is all fiction and the stuff of legend, but since archeologists have found a Norse settlement on Newfoundland, nobody seems to doubt the indisputable evidence any longer. It is known to be a fact that the Norse actually visited North America several centuries before Columbus. 

But where were they, Helluland, Markland and Vinland? Apart from the findings at L'anse aux meadows on Newfoundland, that in all probability could not be the Vinland of the sagas, archeological finds of the Norse settlement is sadly lacking in substance. Does the evidence still linger in the ground, if one knows where to look? Very probably, yes! Is it possible to narrow the area of a plausible search through practical reconstruction, and an undertaking within the frame and outlook of the original Vinland visitors? By the use of an exact replica from the correct age, and by the navigation of such a vessel in an appropriate way as perceived today, we hope to understand them better, who once set out on these journeys and to see for ourselves what decisions they had to make. In this way, we will attempt to reconstruct this mode of travel and the ensuing route, based on what can be gained from written sources. We will furthermore combine this with the choices of route and decisions based on the very same conditions as those encountered by the original Vinland travelers. By the use of this method, we believe that we will end up in the very same geographical areas as they did. At the least we will aim to increase the probability of finding the same geographical area to a very substantial degree. The later combination of the historical sources present qualified observations and archeological surveys and hopefully more limited, geographical areas evident, we then hope to find actual material evidence, which will cast new light on the riddle of Vinland.

3. Object and Goal

The main goal of the project is to find actual archeological evidence of the Viking Vinland, and to inspire further interest in Vinland research.

The secondary goals are:
- To support the construction of a suitable replica of a Viking age ship, that will be used for the actual
  expedition.

- To plan and carry out a scientific expedition with an exact replica Viking age ship in the same way
  and along the same route as the one used by the Viking age Vinland travelers. The sail will start in
  Sweden, and follow the known and proven route via Iceland to Greenland and on to North America,
  the Viking age Vinland.

- To test Viking age navigation techniques during the whole expedition, in order to establish a
  conclusion on the most probable method of navigation during the Viking age. It is present at the start
  of the final leg from Greenland towards Vinland. This in order to make this method the main method
  used to find Vinland. 

- To, by a crew, at least in part, consisting of professional archeologists and marine archeologists,
  survey any coastal areas of interest for Vinland research.

4. Project strategy

The main object is to support the construction of a replica of a Viking age Knarr suitable for travel over the North Atlantic. The vessel is owned by Håkan and Karin Altrock and is rented / leased to the Vittfarne Organization in order to constitute an expedition vessel for the Vinland expedition. With the use of this vessel, we will recreate the conditions of the Viking age Vinland explorers. By the navigation and sailing of such a vessel in the very same manner, and following the same route as those explorers very likely did in the 11th century, the crew will be forced to make the same type of decisions as the original travelers, and thus understand much better where the Viking age Vinland is likely to be found. A number of Viking age navigation methods will be tested before and during the expedition. The most important leg from Greenland to North America will be carried out by the use of the most probable of several available methods of navigation. Other explored and tested methods will, however, be used on a parallel basis, still without any influence on the main decision making process. Due to safety issues, and for documentation purposes, it will be necessary to appoint two persons responsible for navigation and charting with the aid of all possible modern technological equipment. These persons will make all their observations in secret, out of reach for all other crew members, except if and when acute danger will force them to act. The purpose of this is to allow the rest of the crew to get much closer to the original Vinland explorers in every way and every sense. They will also be able to use these enhanced senses in order to make us perceive the original situation in a much more accurate way. To learn and understand how color of the seas, the taste of the sea, the winds and the weather signs change, plus the behaviour of whales, birds, and other marine animals, will hence be a few factors used for the aid of navigation according to ancient methods. The crew members will also, in order to gain the stated total identification with their predecessors, use the very same kind of clothing, food and equipment the Viking age sea travelers did in their time.

Regarding the Greenland to North America leg of the journey, we have established a set of further questions to be answered ensuite:

- How does the pack ice and drifting ice situation influence the sail route and progress of the
  expedition?

- How does the ocean currents influence the sail route and progress of the expedition?

- What does the actual coastal lands look like, and how close to the coast can you actually sail, without
  giving rise to unacceptable risks?

- Where are actual landing spots to be found, or how is an actual landing on the coast possible, i.e. what are the conditions and exact terms during which it can be attempted?

- Is it possible to observe glaciers far on land from the coast, or when sailing past a specific coastline,
  as expressively stated in the sagas?

- Can these glaciers be fully discerned from snow-capped mountains?

- Where are large amounts of fresh water, food and supplies to be found, necessary for the livestock
  and crew aboard, and what are the average amounts of consumption regarding fresh water, food and
 supply?

- What land areas can actually be identified as Helluland of the Sagas?

- Will it be possible to discern large stretches of woodland far inland from the coast, as expressively stated in the sagas? What areas of land are then clearly and discernably identified as Markland?

- Can L'anse aux Meadowes clearly be discerned as Leifsbodarna or something else from the coast or
  the sea, and from what approximate distance?

- Can the exact position of Furdurstränderna be located in the same way?

After the expedition has reached North America during leg nr 3, leg 4 will follow suit, consisting of an archeological survey of the coastal areas of interest for Vinland research. The crew during this archeological leg of the journey will all have the necessary training in archeological survey methods, by the Vittfarne organization. Professional archeologists with plenty of experience of previous surveys in the same geographical areas will follow, lead and monitor the work in progress.  

4:1. Time frame 

1. The Ship building and planning phase 1: -(a private project lead by Håkan and Karin Altrock with the purpose of constructing an exact and suitable Viking age ship replica for the Vinland expedition). The project will be carried out in close co-operation with the Vittfarne organization and will take place simultaneously with the planning phases 1 & 2. Estimated time for the construction phase: 3 - 6 years.
The planning ahead of the shipbuilding phase and introductory planning for the expedition itself will start at a slow pace just before the shipbuilding phase begins. Project description, time frames, budget, sponsor programs etc. will be assembled. A risk analysis as well as the search for material sponsorship begins. A relatively low media presence is maintained throughout this stage. Estimated time for the planning phase: 2 years

2. Expedition planning, phase 2: – the ship is under construction. PR-activities start, sponsorship for the expedition phase is sought, detail planning commences, contacts are established, the sailing route is determined. Estimated time for the planning phase 2: 3 years

3. Expedition planning, phase 3: - the ship is finished and the planning immediately initiating of the actual expedition under the aegis of the Vittfarne organization starts. This phase is initiated and established during the construction phase. During this phase, test sails with crew and ship are carried out. Estimated time for the planning phase: 2 years.

4. Expedition phase: - The expedition is carried out.

5. End phase: - The collected data gained from the expedition are put together to form a final report on the project. Estimated time for the end phase: 2 years.

4:2. Travel route 

Leg 1
Spring - Autumn
The Stockholm Area - Bergen (Norway)
The purpose of the leg is to train the crew in Viking age sailing and navigation.

Leg 2
Early summer - Autumn
Bergen - Husavik (Iceland) - Greenland
The purpose of the leg is to train the crew, which will participate up to at least leg nr 3, in Viking age sailing and navigation

Leg 3
Spring - Autumn
Greenland - Labrador - Newfoundland - Nova Scotia
The purpose of the leg is to reconstruct a typical Vinland expedition and to find areas of interest for archeological surveys by the use of Viking age navigation methods.

Leg 4
Spring - Autumn
Nova Scotia - St Lawrence Bay - Newfoundland
The purpose of the leg is to explore the coast thoroughly along Nova Scotia, St Lawrence Bay and Newfoundland with the help of archeology experts. 

Leg 5
Spring - Autumn
The ship is sailed home to Sweden
Estimated time frame for the whole expedition phase: 5 years 

5. Organization 

The contractor is the Vittfarne Organization. The project is planned by project group Vinland, consisting of members of the Vittfarne Organization. The project leader will report on the results of the project group to the contractors on every Vittfarne Organization board meeting. The construction of a suitable expedition vessel is a private enterprise carried out by Håkan and Karin Altrock, who also are the stated owners of the vessel when constructed. The assignment of the contractor, and project group Vinland, includes co-operation with Håkan and Karin Altrock in order to obtain the goals set for the shipbuilding phase.

Project Group Vinland In the project group, there is a number of Vittfarne members who participated in the planning and the actual expedition of the successful scientific voyage in the trail of Ingvar den Vittfarne 2003 - 2004.

Håkan Altrock – - Project leader
Archeologist from Stockholm Håkan has been employed by the Naval History Museum as well as the Swedish National History Museum. He has taken part in several Viking age commercial "events" and fairs. He constructed the Himingläva vessel and served as the expedition leader at the Vittfarne voyage. Before that he was a crew member of the Havörn expedition and skipper of both of the Aifur expeditions. He has been sailing yardarm ship and boat replicas since 1988. He was the project leader of Expedition Vittfarne 2003-2004.

Mats G Larsson – - Scientific expert
Assistant Professor, well-known author of several popular works like "Ett ödesdigert Vikingatåg", "Väringar", "Rusernas Rike, "Svitjod", "Götarnas Rike", "Vinland det goda" and "Minnet av Vikingatiden". He has carried out some extensive research on Vinland, as well as other subjects in the field. Served as the Scientific expert for Expedition Vittfarne 2003 - 2004.

Dan Thorell
Dan has been employed as sales director of an international company, and serves as expert on business matters, financial matters etc. He also has a genuine interest in sailing and has been a teacher in navigation. He took part in the planning of the Expedition Vittfarne 2003- 2004.

Göran Dalin
Göran is a former Navy officer, but is now employed by the Stockholm regional area administration. He is also working with emergency control, as well as other areas. He has formerly served on the following international defence missions: UNFIL (Libanon) CO conventional radio operations during the Gulf war, flight coordinator for UNHCR (DR CONGO) during the refugee disaster in the great lakes area, and as a military observer on MINAGUA (Guatemala) during the El Nino and hurricane Mitch events. He has also served on an OSSE mission for border monitoring in Georgia. Took part in the planning of the Expedition Vittfarne 2003- 2004.

Gunilla Larsson
Marine archeologist and Doctor of Philosophy at Uppsala University. She has lead archeological excavations in Georgia and other locations. Initiating of the eventual reconstruction and salvage of the Viking boat. She is the author of the doctorate thesis Ship and Society - Maritime Ideology in Late Iron Age Sweden. Took part in the planning of the Expedition Vittfarne 2003- 2004.

Johan Håkansson
He is employed as a constructor of an engineering firm in Kalmar. Took part in the planning of the Expedition Vittfarne 2003- 2004.

Ann Bergerlind
Teacher at Katarina Norra school in Stockholm. She is a former volunteer with Mother Theresa in India, for PACS in Pakistan and Globe Tree, Kenya.

Karin Altrock
Employed as local branch director within the Guldfynd jewelry chain. Former board member and project group co-ordinator of several non-profit organizations, such as Nacka Företagarförening, a local commercial business interest organization. Took part in the planning of Expedition Vittfarne 2003- 2004, and managed all the home office administration during the expedition.

Holger Eliasson
Ex 1st sergeant (army), currently employed within Swedish National Defence forces as a civilian administrator (physical planning and geographical information). Former MUST service NCO/officer 2000 - 2003 (Swedish Military Intelligence). He has sailed with at least four known expeditions of Viking age replicas, including two expeditions with Viksbåten / Tälja across the Baltic (to Tallinn and the Russian border respectively) as well as Havhingsten (the world's largest Viking age replica ship to date) from Denmark to Norway 2005. He has sailed Viking age replicas since 1993. Took part in the planning and first leg of the Vittfarne expedition. He is a former board member of UFFN, Swedish Youth's National UN Committee, and a part-time translator for several non-profit organizations.

Markus Skoog
Employed as a carpenter, entering archeological studies at the Stockholm University. Apart from that, also studying Viking age shipbuilding methods.

Lina Söderberg
Trained archeologist, currently employed in a metal workshop. She is occupied in a smithy in her leisure hours.

Håkan Bältsjö
Measuring technician at SKF in Gothenburg, took part on one leg of the Vittfarne Expedition. Interested in yardarm sailing and the Viking age in general.

Janne Kilvik
An officer of the Navy, acting captain, minesweeper and patrol boat. He has taken part in archeology courses and excavations at Hemse and Fröjel. Took part in one leg of the Vittfarne expedition 2003 - 2004.

6. Reporting and control 

Project Group Vinland will hold planning meetings to any extent, considered necessary by the project group. Much of the discussion and decision making process will take place via email. During the board meetings of the Vittfarne Organization, project Vinland will be brought up on the agenda and reports be filed by the project leader. Information bulletins will be distributed to Vittfarne members at regular intervals. The shipbuilding phase will be documented through a building log on the Vittfarne home page. The expedition phase will also be documented through a log on the home page. After the termination of the expedition, a final report will be distributed and the results shown and documented in the format of a scientific paper. 

7. Cooperation and interest

The Vittfarne organization will be directing its work towards several outside groups according to the needs of the Vinland expedition. These groups can be described as follows:

The scientific community
To find new archeological evidence relating to the Vinland voyages is of major scientific interest, and largely expand on the knowledge base relating to the accuracy of historical sources and this chapter of human history. The scientific community should be interested in the documented results of the project, as they are to be published in the format of a scientific paper.

The general public
”The "Viking" Vinland has always been in the public eye, particularly among "history buffs". If we, in a scientific, but still popular and "spectacular" way could achieve the stated goals of the expedition, we would surely contribute to the public interest regarding this chapter of our native history.

The general public will be able to follow all phases of the expedition on the Vittfarne home page, media releases and other PR-sources.

Expedition Members
The Vinland project will seek to gain members to the future Vinland expedition from the ranks of the Vittfarne organization, and no other source. The crew members will mostly be chosen based on their ability to work as a team during uncomfortable conditions, as well as on previous sailing/expedition experience. A major effort during all phases of the project will be meriting. The crew member must be of a minimum age of 18 years. The contact between prospective crew members will be handled by information via email, test sailings with the expedition vessel and meetings / gatherings all in the organizational hometown, Stockholm, Sweden. All expedition members must be members of the Vittfarne Organization.

Organization Members
Through the construction of a knarr and sailing and navigating the same as done during the viking age, as well as following in the wake of earlier navigators, we will set out to achieve the stated goals of the Vittfarne association, i.e. to gather and distribute information on Viking age travel. All members share equal opportunities to take part in the work in progress, or the actual journey; as crew members.

The Vittfarne Organization stands open to all who wish to be of aid to the expedition in any way, either by membership or in any further study up close. Information gatherings, information materials etc. will be available for all, as the project continues.

Sponsors / Contacts
A large and important part of this expedition emerges from devoted and interested sponsors / contacts. Mainly commercial enterprises or organizations are devoted, through financing / fundraising. Given the fact that the expedition involves several countries, and the public interest within a "spectacular" area we estimate the media / public interest to hold a significant potential. This can give financers and sponsors great possibilities of PR as well as an opportunity to be appearing in a serious and scientific context, as well as the public eye, event-wise. The original Vinland explorers were attracted to the North American continent in search of material goods. They most certainly exchanged such goods with the original inhabitants. Parallels to the current world trade and co-operation between nations and peoples today are easy to find. Trade routs link the peoples and nations together, and lead to development.

It is of major importance that the organization finds commercial enterprises or sister organizations that can beinterested in aiding the expedition financially, and that are quick to realize any contact or market value. We can offer the following:

* The rent of an authentic, sailing exact replica ship forbusiness events, for general PR purposes etc.
* The possibility of further media coverage for corporate logos, mentioning of sponsorship in public
   media before, during and after the expedition
* Help with contacts in all nations visited by the expedition
* The possibility of extended product or service testing, by actual field use throughout the entire
   expedition.
* Targeted information

Major emphasis and effort will be focused on PR and media coverage.

Media
The expedition Vinland is a combination of a serious research project and an adventure of the kind that appeals to a very large audience.

The main goal of the organization in media matters is to gain as great attention for the project as possible. In order to succeed in gaining major media interest, news must be released on a continuous basis during the entire time frame of the project. In order to establish this goal, the Vinland expedition will set up a main contact that will be interested in the monitoring of the project and that can establish further contacts within the media world. 

8. Project risks. 

A risk analysis has been completed for every phase of the project. This analysis is continuously being updated in order to keep one step ahead, if the worst possible will happen. 

9. Quality control. 

The scientific expert of the Vittfarne organization is Assistant Professor Mats G Larsson, a well known scientist within the research area of archaeology. He is also a member of the project group. He has, among other things, completed extensive research on Vinland as well as published a book on the subject. His task is to make certain that the scientific quality of the project is maintained throughout all phases of the project. The naval safety of the expedition will be studied by several experienced professional Navy officers, as well as several renowned and experienced sailors of Viking age crafts with actual field experience of the very same waters that the expedition aims to sail in. An extensive documentation of gained experiences is of prime importance for the goal of the expedition. The expedition will, under the aegis of the organization, be documented on camera and film from a scientific point of view. The material will compliment the final report and will be made available on the Vittfarne home page. Our goal is also to interest TV-producers in the making of documentary material relating to the expedition. The goal will generally be to attract as much media attention as possible, without loosing any of the scientific aim.  

10. Information and Training

The crew on all legs of the expedition will have previous experience of the vessel, plus basic sailing experience gained from other crafts. All key individuals of the crew will have large experience of sailing and navigation in the relevant Seas. During the fourth leg, everyone who is taking part will have undergone a course in archeological survey techniques, the course having been arranged by the Vinland project group. A major part of the crew during the fourth leg will also be trained archeologists.

11. Budget for the Shipbuilding phase